Thiruvananthapuram: Five people were killed in Kerala in rain-related incidents on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 12.
Two people lost their lives in a landslide at Peravoor in Kannur. The deceased were identified as Numa Thazmin and Rajesh. Meanwhile, the body of Riyaz, who had gone missing in Manimala river at Koottikkal near Mundakayam, was found on Tuesday. Bodies of Poulose, who had gone missing at a forest in Urulanthanni near Kothamangalam, and Aneesh who had been missing at Mulanthuruthi in Ernakulam were also found on Tuesday.
Authorities have opened 95 relief camps in various parts of the state. As many as 2,291 people have been shifted to the camps.
Most number of people have been shifted to relief camps in Kottayam district - 657. Kottayam district has opened most number of camps - 21. As many as 447 people have been shifted to camps in Kottayam.
Collectors have declared holiday for several districts on Wednesday in view of the 'red alert' issued there.
Heavy rains continued to batter Kerala on Tuesday even as the State government adopted a slew of measures to minimise the damages and intensify relief work.
Red Alert in 10 districts
The IMD has issued red alert in 10 districts including Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts for Tuesday. An orange alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta.
A red alert has been issued in 11 districts for August 3 and in 9 of them for August 4.
Heavy (7- 11 cm in 24 hours) to very heavy (12 -20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall with isolated extremely heavy (above 20cm in 24 hrs) is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala from August 2 to August 4, the IMD informed.
The central Meteorological Department had on Sunday predicted heavy rains in Kerala till August 4.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm.
Holiday for educational institutions in 8 districts
Kerala government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in seven districts on Tuesday (August 2) in view of the incessant rain in the State. The eight districts are Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam and Kannur.